Siquijor Declares State of Calamity Over Power Crisis
CEBU CITY — Siquijor province has officially declared a state of calamity due to the worsening power crisis affecting its residents. Governor Jake Villa announced that the provincial board unanimously approved the declaration during their regular session on June 3. This move aims to address the urgent energy shortage that has left the island grappling with frequent blackouts.
“We want the public to know, especially the Siquijodnons, that the challenge has become unbearable. We have been experiencing daily blackouts for almost a month already,” Villa said in a press briefing at the Siquijor Provincial Capitol on June 5.
For nearly a month, Siquijor has faced daily power outages lasting four to six hours. Villa identified the main cause as the malfunction of six key generators operated by the island’s power provider, Siquijor Island Power Corp. (SIPCOR). SIPCOR, managed by Prime Asia Venture Inc. (PAVI), has supplied power to the island since a 2015 agreement with the local electric cooperative Prosielco.
Generators Breakdown Deepens Power Crisis
Villa explained that several generators require urgent overhaul, resulting in a shortage of about two megawatts from the total 9.4-megawatt demand. These diesel-powered generators operate off-grid, meaning no external provinces can supplement Siquijor’s power needs.
“We are off-grid, we are dependent on the generator itself,” Villa emphasized.
With the state of calamity in place, Siquijor can now tap into its calamity fund, which currently holds P14 million, to tackle the crisis. One immediate step is to rent two generators from Cebu, costing the province around P2.8 million for a two-month lease. These generators can supply two megawatts, enough to meet the current deficit.
During the governor’s press conference, a blackout momentarily interrupted the briefing, underscoring the severity of the situation.
Plans For Long-Term Power Stability
Prosielco has recently acquired a two-megawatt generator from Palawan, which is expected to help ease the shortage. Villa assured that the state of calamity will be lifted once the power supply stabilizes.
Looking ahead, Prosielco plans to open a competitive bidding process to invite more power providers to the island. Additionally, a solar power plant is under construction in the town of Maria, which is projected to contribute additional energy in the coming years.
Fortunately, the province’s hospital remains unaffected by the outages, as it has backup power through its own generator and solar panels.
Economic and Social Impact of the Power Crisis
Villa stressed the importance of swiftly resolving the power crisis, warning of its potential impact on Siquijor’s economy, particularly the tourism sector. Tourism is vital to the island’s livelihood, with visitor numbers reaching 1.3 million last year.
“If we lose our tourists because they are not satisfied with the services of the establishments, this would interrupt and disrupt our economy. It is tantamount to economic sabotage,” Villa said.
While he did not elaborate on the term “economic sabotage,” the governor mentioned that the province is considering legal action against SIPCOR for its role in the prolonged power issues. The crisis may also pose risks to peace and order on the island.
Villa shared that he has been unfairly blamed for the power problems, even receiving threatening messages.
“People are blaming me. In fact, I have been receiving threats through text messages because the power crisis is being blamed on me,” he lamented.
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